11 failed IUIs, IVF #1- miscarriage, FET #1-nada, IVF #2-triplets but we lost them all at 9, 18, and 21 weeks in 2013. When all hope was lost a friend stepped forward to be our gestational carrier and carried in our twins... 2 years later we decided to try for one more baby with me carrying again...this is our story

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Transfered 3-Day 5 Embryos on Transfer Round #3

July ish, 2013

This week has definitely allowed me to flex my faith muscles. Last fresh cycle I felt like the embryologist called me daily for updates. The last update I got was on Day 3 that all 11 were still in the running. As a worrier, I flashed back to my last cycle. All TWENTY were still in the running on Day 3 but just 6 made it to blastocyst and out of the 4 "perfect" ones transferred, I'm still not pregnant. Eleven seemed a lot slimmer to me and of course worse casenario is nothing makes it to Day 5. On the bright side, I have trained my mouth and mind to whisper Jesus and remind myself no matter what I do/don't do, He is in control and makes the call.

On a great note, since they triggered me a day early (day 8) I had 1 day of mild bloating but by the 3rd day after SURGERY I shoveled dirt for our yard and my parents for 3 hours and mowed the lawn. AND shoveled bark dust. The best part of all this was after we did our yard, I decided to help my dad (they are our neighbors) and he gave me $10! LOL, it was like a little allowance. I feel amazing and am so thankful I avoided OHSS.

I got the call today, Day 5, that it was "game time" and that I won the "best embryos of the day" award. I'm guarded because last time I got that award too. Just because they are "high quality" doesn't mean they implant or that they are normal (flashback early miscarriage).
I over zealously filled my bladder. The embryologist came to talk to us and said he was shocked our FET didn't work (they dethawed beautifully) but that infertility is unpredictable (no crap). He went on to say that we have SEVEN blastocysts that meet freezing criteria with a possible 2 more he can add tomorrow. I was shocked because last time we just had 6 with more than double the fertilized embryos to begin with. I told him I wanted to transfer 3. He laughed. Then realized I wasn't kidding. He asked "why?" I pointed out that FOUR high quality had been transferred and that nothing stuck. He stared a me and my husband silently and said "you will have to talk to the Dr."

Well, I was one step ahead of him and had talked with her a few days before. We know the risks but at this point with this being our 11th total treatment (including IUIs) I don't want to mess around. Triplets would be nuts, and our goal is a healthy baby, but I do want to do this again.

The Dr. did her best to try to re-convince me one last time "you're young, your embryos are good" but she said, "I'm fine with 3" and as she was setting up said the chances of all 3 sticking are slim anyway. I would be lying if I said Darren didn't look a little nervous with all the concern, but we had prayed God would make it clear if we were to not tranfer 3, and we both felt peace about it. We decided to transfer our two "BEST" 4AA embryos and then lucky number 7 (he said this last one was still like a B plus). It went smooth. The only small hiccup was I had to get up to go to the bathroom after 20 minutes (instead of waiting the 30-40 they prefer) but the nurse convinced me it was safe.

Darren then drove me to an acupuncturist that was willing to be "on call." It was different than the regular one I see but I felt better going. The only annoying part was she asked me if I have had all my hormones checked and if my husband had been checked (read in sarcastic voice 'oh, we've only done 3 IVFs and haven't even thought of that?). Lol.

The nurse on duty today told me that I'm on "princess duty" and to lay low the rest of the day. I've watched like 10 episodes of Arrested Development and whenever I need something I refer to my husband as "helper" instead of Darren :) I feel peaceful now, praying that lasts the next 9 days.

*Final count: 17 retrieved, 11 mature, 11 fertilized, 9 made it to blastocyst, transfered 3, 6 frozen (added to our 2 other frosties from 1st transfer so we have 8 frosties total). Infterility is so random. Last time had 20 mature fertilzied eggs and 6 made it to day 5; this time I had half that amount but 3 more made it? So strange. Of course several people I follow only ending up having TWO viable embyos total and still end up getting pregnant. I've had tons of awesome ones and nothing yet.I know too well that ART isn't 100% guaranteed and although I'm thankful for the numbers, it doesn't mean they are all normal or healthy (we didn't pay for genetic testing) But, for now I get to flash around the annoying term PUPO! That's me! Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise ;)

15 comments:

Holly! So happy to hear that everything went smoothly!!! I am cheering you guys on! You and really are in such a similar boat with "perfect" numbers and fabulous embryos...and then nothing buy tears. This time I'm praying it will be different in that you'll cry tears of JOY!

i want tears of joy!! For sure. I keep reminding myself this is a different batch this is a different batch. AND YOU inspired me to try my best to stay away from evil Dr. google and just try to not go insane.

Woohoo! So happy everything went smoothly. Praying a ton that this is your time. I keep talking about your posts and where you're at to my husband and finally said to him "Do I need to keep saying Holly 'from the blog' or can I just say Holly?" He said he knows who you are so it's just Holly now! Praying for those three little ones to cling on tight :) And praying Jesus would be so near to you as you wait.

Holly, You Have Been On My Mind Lately (Sorry For The Crazy capping-it's My Crazy Phone.) :) I Am Beyond Thrilled To Read That You Got So Many Great Embryos And Have Three Little Lovelies Making Themselves At Home In Your Womb. Amazing. :) I Am Praying Hard For You And Your Sweet Ones. Please Let Me Know If You Would Like A New Heart With Three Little Ones Inside To Hold While You Wait. I Would Be So Happy To Make One For You! Remember You Are Strong And Your Body Knows What To Do. PUPO!!!!! (I Love This Saying!)

My Bucket List:

Meet the Bensons

Hi! I'm Holly and Darren is my husband. We have been married 5 years; after our 11th fertility treatment in 2013 we lost triplets (2 were stillborns in the 2nd tri). It nearly destroyed us. The day I delivered my son a friend emailed us and offered to carry some of our biological remaining embryos. The transfer was a success and we had twin boys born almost exactly a year-to-the-date later than when I delivered my son. If I'm not blogging about our journey, I'm teaching high school Spanish, drinking Starbucks, hanging out with family, eating candy-and then working it off at the gym. If you ever need to contact me directly you can at hollybenson10@yahoo.com or if you want to see more into our daily lives, my instagram is hbenson10

How Long We've Been At It:

JB

Babies in Heaven

We have had two miscarriages and 2 stillborns (born 3 weeks apart). I'm 50/50 on naming the early miscarriages but it gives me a sense of peace and reality of their lives. In heaven, I will call for them.

Jaden lost 11/2012 blighted ovum (my sister gave me the idea for this name, it means "God has heard" and he had because it was our 1st pregnancy)

Isaac lost 8/2013 everything was perfect and then stopped at 9 weeks (my sister is law gave me this idea. Isaac means "laughter" and everyone's first reaction to us having triplets was laughter)

Stillborn daughter born 10/30/13

Stillborn son Jude born @21 weeks 11/17/30

Infertility Treatment Journey

Me: 31 I have mild PCOS and ovulate very randomly (I respond to femera and on that have normal cycles)